An Investigation into the Iranian EFL Language Learners' Attitudes on TOEFL iBT
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Volume two, Issue three
July 2012
An Investigation into the Iranian EFL Language Learners’ Attitudes on TOEFL iBT KAMAL HEIDARI SOURESHJANI, PARISA RIAHIPOUR & AREZOO SAFIKHANI
RETRACTED 17 DECEMBER 2013
doi: 10.1186/2229-0443-3-17
Islamic Azad University, Shahrekord Branch, Iran
Bio Data: Kamal Heidari Soureshjani holds M.A in TEFL from Shiraz University and is a Young Researchers Club Member. He taught English courses and IELTS at different institutes in Shiraz and is presently the academic member of Azad University, Shahrekord branch. Parisa Riahipour has M.A. in TEFL and is now an instructor in Islamic Azad university, Shahrekord Branch. She has been teaching English in different institutes and in different levels for about three years. Arezoo Safikhani also has M.A. in TEFL and has been teaching English in different institutes and in different levels for several years. She has compiled a set of articles published in different journals. Abstract The present study, which was probably the first of its kind in Iran, aimed at investigating the attitudes of Iranian iBT candidates towards the iBT test. It especially addressed the role of gender in the attitude of the participants of the study on iBT test. Accordingly, an attitude questionnaire was developed based on the theoretical framework of the study and then administered among Iranian iBT candidates who had taken the test in Shiraz, Iran. The collected data was then analyzed through chi-square and T-test to see if there was any meaningful relationship between candidates' sex and their attitudes towards the iBT test. The study revealed that first, most of the participants in the study had a positive attitude toward iBT and second, it was found out that the candidates’ gender had no significant role in their attitudes towards iBT test. Implications can be drawn for all the stakeholders including candidates intending to sit for the test, institutes running iBT preparation program and teachers wishing to teach such programs. Key terms: iBT test, t-test, Iranian candidates’ attitudes Introduction The Test of English as a Foreign Language Internet-Based test (TOEFL iBT) was designed as a measure of English ability for university academic studies in North America. It was introduced in September 2005 and gradually spread worldwide during 2005 and 2006. TOEFL iBT was developed in response to a request by
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RETRACTED 17 DECEMBER 2013
doi: 10.1186/2229-0443-3-17
Language Testing in Asia
Volume two, Issue three
July 2012
institutions that would measure non-native speakers' ability to communicate in English in an academic setting. iBT which is a 100% academically-focused test, meaning that it measures the kind of English language used in academic settings, specifically has been designed to measure the ability to communicate by combining, or integrating, all four language skills. The concept of attitude has been the focus of attention in explanation of human behavior offered by social psychologists. Attitude is usually defined as a disposition or tend
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